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Pupil Transportation
Roles and Responsibilities
School Bus Vehicles
- Oversees the purchase of new school bus vehicles
- Liaison between school divisions and school bus and equipment manufacturers
- Inspects new school bus units for defects and ensures correction before delivery to school divisions
- Performs research and development on new school bus equipment
- Provides school divisions with school bus regulatory information and ensures compliance with regard to school bus vehicle operations
- Maintains and monitors a school bus "failed materials" database
- Maintains a school bus accident database
School Bus Driver Certification
- Issues School Bus Operator Certificates and maintains a provincial school bus driver registry
Training
- Conducts School Bus Driver Instructor Courses and certifies participants who successfully complete the three phases of instruction
- Coordinates seminars geared to school bus service technicians
- At school divisions' requests, participate in school bus driver inservice sessions
- Publishes the School Bus Drivers' Handbook and School Bus Driver Instructor's Manual
- Develops resource material used for school bus driver training and student ridership training
Transportation System Reviews
Since 1998, PTU has conducted school bus transportation system reviews within Manitoba school divisions. During a review, PTU staff assess critical areas of a school division's transportation system. Information is gathered through discussions with school division personnel, meetings with school bus drivers, examination of current policy, questionnaires to school principals, and inspection of a number of school buses in its fleet. As well, a Riding the School Bus test is given to grade 5 students to assess their level of school bus safety knowledge, and a 50 question multiple-choice exam is given to school bus drivers. School bus loading zone procedures are monitored, and school bus operation on routes is observed.
A final report is prepared for a school division which outlines the findings of its current transportation system; provides recommendations intended to assist a division meet mandatory legislative compliance; and offers suggestions for improvements.
Roles and Responsibilities of Government Departments Involved with School Buses in Manitoba
Roles and Responsibilities of Government Departments Involved with School Buses in Manitoba (
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The purpose of this document is to identify the various groups and their roles and responsibilities with enforcing the Acts and Regulations as they pertain to their individual departments. It should be noted that this document is specific to school buses operated within the Province of Manitoba. Other motorized vehicles may have their own specific Acts and Regulations to be adhered to.
Liaison/Committees
- PTU’s Senior Field Officer is a member of the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) Technical Committee on School Buses. This is a national committee comprised of provincial government representatives and school bus manufacturers. The committee is responsible for producing and updating CSA D250 (the Standard for School Buses) as well as providing responses to formal interpretation requests. The most recent version, CSA D250-16, came into effect November 1, 2016, and contains chassis and body requirements for regular school buses, and requirements for accessible school buses (wheelchair buses). New to the 2016 version are several significant changes to the past version as well as inclusion of standards for Multi-Functional Activity Buses (previously CSA D270).
- PTU liaises with Manitoba Public Insurance regarding school bus driver licencing issues, with Manitoba Infrastructure regarding school bus vehicle issues, or with both entities for issues that overlap with The Highway Traffic Act.
- On an ongoing basis, PTU staff are involved with various committees formed to examine current pupil transportation issues.
